Tool handle



Dec 11, 192s. 1,694,559

J. L. CSGOOD TOOL HANDLE Filed` Deo 26, 1925 Wd-ff Patented Dec. 1l, 1928.

LarissaV PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. OSGOOD, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TOOL HANDLE.

Application filed December 26, 1925. Serial No. 77,677.

rIhis invention relates to tool handles, and more particularly to tool handles of that kind, ordinarily made of Wood, which are used for iiles and analogous tools which are provided at one end with a tang or stein Which is adapted to be driven into an axial hole in one end of the handle for securing the handle on the tool. In such constructions, the handle is retained on the tool by the wedging of the tang in the hole or the frictional grip of the Wood of the handle on the tang, and it is customary to drive or force the tang further into the handle from time to time when the handle Works loose in the use of the tool, in order to tighten the tang in the handle. This repeated driving` of the tang further into the handle results in splitting the handle or en larging the tang hole to such an extentv that the handle will no longer be held firmly 0n the tool unless provision is made to prevent these results.

rllhe handles of this character commonly considered the most satisfactory are made of bass Wood, because that Wood is tough, does not readily splinter or split, and at the same time its character is such as to provide a surface for the'handle which is soft or coinfortable to the touch and affords a firm,-

secure grip in the hand. It has been found in practice, however, that because of peculiar characteristics of bass Wood,it is impractical to turn bass Wood handles on automatic machinery, so that it has been customary to turn the better grade bass Wood handles by hand. This, added to the cost of the Wood,malresthe handles relatively expensive to produce.

The objects of my present` invention are to produce a strong, durable and desirable handle for .tiles and analogous tools which has a surface or grip portion that ensures a firm, comfortable grip of the handle in t-he hand, and which has other advantages and characteristics, including usual shape, of high grade Wooden handles of the sort mentioned, but which nevertheless is of such construction that the handle can be made from less expensive Wood, of a character adapted to be turned on automatic machinery, thereby reducing the cost of production of the handles; and also to improve the construction of tool handles inthe other respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

preferably 1 the analogous resilient material which surrounds the Wooden core and is firmly and permanently secured on the core. The corev l0 can bey made of any suitable kind of Wood, but because of the construction of the handle hereinafter described, the core, as above stated,l

can be made of aless expensive Wood than is ordinarily employedfor high grade handles. This corepref-eraloly for thegreater portion of its length, made of smaller diameter than the usual handle, so that with the surrounding resilient, grip portion, the handle will be f externally of substantially the usual size, andA preferably the core and the grip portion are` shaped so that the handle Will have the en ternal form-usualin handlesfor files and analogous tools.

As shown, the Wooden core has a rounded or semi-spherical, outeror rear end which is of larger diameter than theremainder of the core, thus forming'near the outer end of the handle a shoulderlQ against which the resilientv grip portion l1 abuts, and preferably, the grip portion ll extends from this shoulder 12 nearly to the opposite or inner endof the handle, With the outer surface of the resilient grip portion flush with theouter surface of the enlarged rear end portion of thecore. The resilient grip portion 1l is preferably formed by molding the rubber or composition While in a plastic condition onthe Wooden core and vulcanizing` the composition on the core so that it is securely and permanently attachedy to and forms a practically integral,

yielding surface or grip on the core. ln. apl plying the resilient `grip to the corethe surface ofthe Wooden core which is to be covered by the grip portion has applied thereto ay cement or a coating of a character adapted to insure a very firm and permanent bond between the Wood and the composition when the latter is vulcanized. The Wooden core with the cement or adhesive coating is then placed in a mold of the required foi-in and the plastic rubber or composition is introduced into the mold around the reduced portion of the Wooden core, after Which the rubber is vulcanized in the usual manner. If desired, the mold can be made to form surface grooves or serrations on the resilient grip to insure a still surer hold of the handle in the hand.

As above indicated, the Wooden core is of smaller `diameter than the usual wooden handle, and since the rubber surrounding the core is elastic and Would not of itself prevent the expansion and splitting of the Wooden core, by the Wedging action incidentI to driving the tang of the tool into the handle, pro vision is made for strengthening or reinforcing the core, to prevent such splitting. For this purpose, a ferrule 13` is preferablyprovided surrounding the tool-end of the Wooden core, and in addition, a metal reinforcing `ring or sleeve 14 also surrounds the core,

preferably at a point bet-Ween the ends of the tang hole or adjacent the inner end thereof.

This ring 14 is embedded in or covered and hidden by the rubber grip portion, and the inner end of the ferrule 13 also preferably extends into the adjacent end portion of the y rubber grip so as to be covered by the rubber. rlhe metal ferrule 13 is shown as being provided at its inner end With out-bent lugs or portions 15 which are embedded in the body of rubber so that the rubber which is vulcanized and securely attached to the Wooden core, the metal ring 1e and the ferrule, acts to securely retain the ferrule and the reinforcing ring in position on the handle core. Furthermore, this construction gives the accustomed appearance to the handle and prevents contact of the hand with the inet-al ferrule. The lugs 15 on the ferrule can'be readily formed by slitting the inner end of the ferrule and bending outwardly the portions of the ferrule between the slits. ln making the handle, the reinforced ring 14; and the ferrule 13 can be simply slipped onto the Wooden core before the latter is placed in the mold, so that when the rubber is introduced into the mold and vulcanized, the rubber will become securely and permanently attached to the reinforcing ring and fe'rrule as Well as to the Wooden core of the handle. The rubber thus serves to retain the reinforcing ring and ferrule in place, and it is not necessary to otherwise secure these parts or to provide any additional securing means for the ring and ferrule.

rlhe handle constructed as described is preferably similar in size and external shape to the usual Wooden handle and has the advantages of the latter as to shape, but it provides a resilient and desirable gripping surface. In addition, the handle has the ad- 'longitudinal hole to receive the tang of a tool, and a resilient grip portion which surrounds and is permanently attached to the core, and a metal reinforcing ring surround ing said core between the saine and said resilient grip portion, said grip portion being securely attached to said core and to said reinforcing ring and covering tl e latter.

i tool handle comprising a core of wood or the like provided at one end With a longitudinal hole to receive the tang of a tool, and a resilient grip portion which sur rounds and is permanently att-ached to the core, a reinforcing ring, and a ferrule surrounding the portion of the core in which the tang hole is located between the core and sait resilient grip portion, said 'grip portion covering said reinforcing ring and also the f inner end of said ferrule, and said grip por tion being securely attached to the core and to said reinforcing ring and ferrule.

3. n.' tool handle comprising a core ofk Wood er tlie'like provided at one endivith a longitudinal hole to receive the tangof a tool, and a resilient grip portion which surrounds and is permanently attached to the core, and a metal ferrule surrounding the end of the core in which the tang hole is located, said ferrule having its inner portion extending into lsaid resilient grip portion and having projections at its inner end einbeddedin and securely attached to' said resilient grip portion.

l. A tool handle comprising a Wooden core provided rat one end with a longitudinal hole to receive the tang of a tool and adapted to be expanded by a'tapering tang driven into said hole, and an elastic rubber grip portion which surrounds and is vulcanized and permanently attached to the Wooden core and reinforcing means covered and hidden by said rubber grip portion for preventing the Wooden core from being split by the tangof the tool, said Wooden core having an enlarged end portion forming a shoulder against Which the rubber grip portion abuts, and the .external surface of the rubber grip portion being flush with the eX- ternal surface of said enlarged end portion of the Woodencore. l

5. A tool handle comprising a core of Wood or the lile provided at one end with a longi` tudinal hole to receive the tang of a tool, and a. resilient grip portion which surrounds and is permanently attached to the core, and a metal reinforcing ring surrounding said `core between the same and said resilient grip portion, said grip portion being vulcanized'and llt) permanently attached to said core and to said reinforcing ring and covering the latter.

6. A tool handle comprising a core of wood or the like having` a tang-receiving hole` eX- tending in a lengthwise direction from one end, a reinforcing ring surrounding said core at a point over said hole and spaced inwardly from said one end, a ferrule surrounding said core at said one end and extending along said core for some. distance, and a separate grip section applied overand secured to said core and surrounding said ring.

7. A tool handle comprisingI a core of wood or the like having a tang-receiving hole eX- tending in a lengthwise direction from one end, a reinforcing ring surrounding said core at a point over said hole and spaced inwardly from said one end7 a ferrule surrounding said core at said one end and extendingl along said core for some distance, and a separate grip section applied over and secured to said core and surrounding said ring and ferrule and confining them against endwise movement on said core. f

8. A tool handle comprising a core of wood or the like having a tang-receiving hole eX- tending in a lengthwise direction from one end, a reinforcing ring surrounding said core at a point over said hole and spaced inwardly from said one end, a ferrule surrounding said core at said one end and extending along said core for some distance, and a separate grip section applied over and secured to said core and sinirounding said ring and ferrule, the periphery of said ferrule which is engaged by said grip section having portions mechanically interlocking` with the inner surface of the grip section, whereby movement oi' the ferrule along the core will be resisted by said grip section.

I 9. A tool handle comprising a core of wood or the like having a tang-receiving hole extending in a lengthwise direction from one end, a reinforcing ring surrounding said core at a. point over said hole and spaced inwardly from said one end, a. ferrule surrounding said core at said one end and extending along said core for some distance, and a separate grip section applied over and adherently secured to said core at both ends of said ring and confining it against en'dwise movement along said core.

10. A tool handle comprising a core of wood or the likel having a tang-receiving hole extending in a lengthwise direction from one end, a reinforcing ring surrounding said core at a point over said hole and spaced inwardly from said one end, a ferrule surrounding said core at said one end and extending along said core for some distance, and a separate grip section applied over and secured to said core and surrounding said ring and ferrnle, the inner end of said ferrule having tongues bent outwardly in lateral direction and mechanically interlocking with the inner surface of said grip section. v

l1. A tool handle comprising a core of wood or the like having a tang-receiving hole eX tending in a lengthwise direction from one end, a reinforcing ring surrounding said core at a point over said hole, and spaced inwardly from said one end, a ferrule surroiurding said core at said one end and extending along said .corefor some distance, and a grip of plastic material moulded over said core and ring and secured to said core by hardening. i.

l2. A tool handle comprising a core of wood r the like having a tang-receiving hole eX- tending in a lengthwise direction from one end, a reinforcing ring surrounding said core at a point over said hole and spaced inwardly from said one end, a fcrrnle surrounding said core at said one end and extending along said core for some distance, and a grip of plastic material moulded over said core, ring, and inner' end of said ferrule, and secured to said core by hardening, the inner end of said ferrule at its periphery having abutments over which said material is moulded to mechanically interlock said ferrule to said grip.

JOHN OSGOOD. 

